Dr. Anne Helmreich was announced as the new Dean of the College of Fine Arts Friday, according to an email from Provost Nowell Donovan.

Helmreich has served as Senior Program Officer at the Getty Foundation in Los Angeles for the past four years.

She was previously an assistant and associate professor in the Art and Art History departments at TCU from 1996 to 2003.

Helmreich is replacing Scott Sullivan, who led the College of Fine Arts for the past 15 years.

Dr. Harry Parker, theatre department chair and member of the dean search committee, said Helmreich has experienced both ends of funding in higher education, as she has obtained grants and awarded them.

“She has an incredible background in fundraising and also an impeccable academic background as well,” Parker said.

Donovan said in his email that Helmreich’s teaching expertise includes Western European Art, the history of photography, museum studies and gender studies.

Parker said that the search committee interviewed more than 70 applicants, looking for an individual with a great “sense of vision and leadership.” 

He added that with new leadership and improved facilities, the TCU College of Fine Arts is on the verge of “exploding nationally in terms of visibility.”